What Should Be in Your Education Agent Contract: Fees, Included Services and Refund Policy

A written contract with your education agent must clearly state the fees you will pay, the exact services included in those fees, and the agent’s refund policy. These three elements are the minimum required to protect yourself when engaging an agent to help you study in Australia. Below is a breakdown of what each element should cover and what else to watch for before you sign.

Fees you will pay

The contract must specify the total amount you will pay the agent and when payments are due. Some agents charge a service fee directly to you, while others are paid a commission by the education provider — a cost that is usually built into your tuition fees. The agreement should make clear which model applies and whether any additional charges (such as for document translation, courier fees, or health insurance arrangement) are included or billed separately.

Tip: Contact several agents and compare their fee structures. Be cautious of fees that seem unusually low or high compared with the market average; this may indicate the agent is not being transparent about what their services should cost.

Exact services included

The contract must list every service the agent will provide for the agreed fee. According to Study Australia, typical services can include:

Guidance on choosing a course, city, and education provider matched to your academic background, career goals, and budget
Advice on study options and courses
Information on scholarships and internships
Help preparing and submitting your study application
Assistance applying for Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)
Pre-departure information and support

Some agents also offer help finding accommodation, arranging travel, or providing support after you arrive in Australia. If these extra services are promised, they must appear in the written contract. Services not listed are not guaranteed.

Refund policy

The contract must state the agent’s refund policy in plain language. It should explain:

Under what circumstances you can receive a full or partial refund (for example, if your visa is refused, if you withdraw before lodging an application, or if the agent fails to deliver the promised services)
Any non‑refundable portions of the fee
The process and timeline for requesting a refund

If the contract is silent on refunds, you have no contractual basis to recover money if things go wrong.

Other contract details to verify

Beyond the three mandatory elements, check that the agreement also covers:

Which education providers the agent represents — some agents work only with specific institutions that pay them commissions.
A clear communication plan — how often you will be updated and what to expect at each stage of the application.
No guarantees — reputable agents will not promise a visa grant, course success, or permanent residency. Under Australian migration law, only a registered migration agent or an Australian legal practitioner can give visa advice. An education agent who is not also a registered migration agent must not provide immigration assistance. You can verify registration on the Register of Migration Agents.
No inducements — agents and providers must not offer gifts, vouchers, cash, or rewards to persuade you to enrol or to transfer providers after you arrive. Since recent rule changes, providers are banned from paying commissions to agents for recruiting students already studying in Australia (onshore transfers).

Before you sign

Read the entire contract and ask for clarification on any vague terms.
Keep a signed copy for your records.
Do your own research on courses and providers using the Study Australia Course Search so you are not solely reliant on the agent’s recommendations.

A clear, written contract protects both you and the agent. If an agent refuses to provide one, consider it a red flag and look elsewhere.